Sunday, October 19, 2008

Sanctuary for sun bears in Sabah soon

KOTA KINABALU: There is hope for a bright future for sun bears in Sabah that are facing extinction. A sanctuary is being set up in Sanda­kan for the bears.

The state Wildlife Department together with the state Forestry Department and non-governmental organisation Land Empower­ment Animals People (Leap) will jointly set up the conservation centre next to the orang utan rehabilitation centre.

Wildlife Department director Laurentius Ambu said the sun bear facility would be the first of its kind in Asia and was aimed at rehabilitation, research and education efforts concerning the animal.